Another split doubleheader for PSU Softball

Apr 10, 2004

DANBURY, Conn. - Plymouth State University's
softball team split a doubleheader for the third time in four days
Saturday afternoon at Westside Field, coming back to win the
nightcap of the Little East Conference twinbill against Western
Connecticut State University, 6-4, after dropping the opener, 3-1.

The Panthers, who also traded wins with Fitchburg State on
Wednesday and Eastern Connecticut on Friday, finish the week with
an 8-9 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the LEC. Western Conn., the
three-time defending LEC regular season champs, is now 9-10 overall
and 2-2 in conference play.

In the opener, the Colonials scattered six hits. Junior Melissa
Walsh (Hamden, Conn.) belted two doubles and drove in an insurance
run in the sixth. In WestConn's three-run sixth inning, Holly
Szymanski (Wallingford, Conn.) singled down the left field line,
Jennifer Caveney (Keene, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice, and
sophomore Emily Ann Cullen (Danbury, Conn.) belted her third home
run of the season over the wall in left field.

Freshman Meg Cirigliano (Newington, Conn.) earned the win after
coming on in the top of the sixth inning. She struck out three
after coming on in relief for starter Brooke Morris (Stamford,
Conn.).

Plymouth State had eight hits, led by seniors Maria
Curran (Scarborough, Maine) and Krissy
Crego (Rochester, N.Y.) who had two hits apiece. Crego
drove in PSU's only run with a second-inning single to center.
Junior Kim Jeffs (Stoughton, Mass.) took the loss
despite striking out seven, all in the first three innings.

In the nightcap, the Panthers took advantage of two errors by
the Colonials to score three unearned runs in the bottom of the
sixth inning. Junior Jess Rousselle (Deerfield,
N.H.) reached on an error, sophomore Jess Fortin
(Chester, N.H.) walked and Jeffs had an RBI single to left field,
scoring Rousselle. After an intentional walk to Kristin
Balles (Bedford, N.H.), Sara Madden
(Londonderry, N.H.) singled to right field, plating Fortin, and
Curran added an RBI single to score Balles. Freshman Nicole
Lovejoy (Poland, Maine) worked out a bases-loaded walked
to close out the scoring for Plymouth State in its last at bat.

Sophomore Rose Eaton (Concord, N.H.) improved
to 3-3 after coming on for Jeffs in the fourth inning. She struck
out one and yielded just four hits.

PSU is back in action Tuesday in what will hopefully be the home
opener against Keene State (4:00 p.m.). The first three home dates
this season were rained out. Western also faces an in-state LEC
rival Tuesday as the Colonials visit Eastern Conn. (5:00 p.m.).